CHITRAL, Pakistan: Several hundred militants from Afghanistan launched a pre-dawn cross-border raid on Pakistani paramilitary posts on Saturday, killing up to 36 people, government and security officials said.| Looks like the 'mighty Pak army' took one on the chin... |
"Reportedly, terrorists from Swat, Dir and Bajaur organized by Fazullah and Maulvi Faqir Mohammad with local Afghans have attacked the security forces posts," a military statement said, referring to northwestern Pakistani regions and senior Pakistani Taleban commanders.
Many Pakistani Taleban fighters fled to Afghanistan in the face of army offensives and have joined allies there to regroup and threaten Pakistani border regions, analysts say.
| Did they flee or did they just kiss the wimmins goodbye and tell them that they'd be back after vacation and a few training seminars? |
| So much better when these attacks occur at the border instead of Swat or Islamambad.. |
Troops blew up two bridges in the border region to stem the militants' incursion.
"Scanty presence" of NATO and Afghan forces along the border has enabled militants to use these areas as safe havens and launch repeated attacks inside Pakistan, the military said.